Latest news with #JordanSpence
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LA Kings Reportedly Considered Trading Brandt Clarke This Offseason
The Los Angeles Kings have made several interesting moves this offseason, including trading Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators and signing Cody Ceci as a Vladislav Gavrikov replacement. However, it sounds like another move was being considered.
Japan Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
From Osaka to the NHL: Jordan Spence hopes to inspire young Japanese hockey players
There was a time when the notion of a Japanese player making it to the top level of hockey was absurd enough that it became the butt of a joke. In 1974, Buffalo Sabres general manager Punch Imlach was so frustrated with the length of the NHL draft and, seeing no players left that interested him, had his organization draft a fictitious player named Taro Tsujimoto with the 183rd overall pick. The ruse was eventually uncovered when the nonexistent Tsujimoto, who was even given a locker, failed to show up for training camp. But the name continues to be a unique part of hockey lore, and for years Tsujimoto was the closest a 'Japanese player' came to making the NHL. Today, young players in Japan have an actual homegrown NHL player they can look up to. Jordan Spence, who was born in Australia but grew up in Osaka, is getting set for his fifth NHL season after being traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Ottawa Senators earlier in the offseason. Spence, then with the Kings, takes a shot during a game against the Kraken in April. | Imagn Images / via Reuters Spence, who has a Canadian father and Japanese mother, learned to play during a childhood spent in the baseball-mad Kansai region. 'I was lucky because my dad was really big into hockey and he was very passionate about the game, so he was always able to find a lot of ice time,' Spence told The Japan Times. Still, it's fair to wonder how far his career could have taken him in Japan, and the family eventually moved to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in large part so he could pursue hockey more seriously. He was able to adapt seamlessly to the more competitive hockey environment in Canada, eventually earning a spot on the blueline with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, one of Canada's three top-tier junior hockey leagues. Later, he caught the eye of the Kings, who took him in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft. 'It's pretty cool. You kind of have to take a step back and realize the journey that you've overcome,' Spence said. 'Hopefully that can motivate other players, especially in Japan, that it's possible to make it to the NHL.' Indeed, Spence's path to the elite level puts him in rarified air in a sport that produces few talents outside of hot spots in North America and Europe. After the infamous Tsujimoto incident, an actual Japanese player wasn't drafted until defenseman Hiroyuki Miura was taken by the Montreal Canadiens in 1992 — though he never suited up for the storied franchise. Kings goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji makes a save during his first NHL start on Jan. 16, 2007. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to play in an NHL game. | Reuters Then in 2004, the Kings selected goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, who played four games with the big club in the 2006-07 season to become Japan's first bonafide NHLer. Fukufuji's brief stint, however, pales in comparison to what Spence has done in his young career. Through 180 games, Spence has produced eight goals and 53 assists while earning a regular role with the Kings over the last two seasons, playing in all but 14 of the team's games over that span. Last month, the 24-year-old defenseman returned to Japan for the first time since his move to Canada to help run a hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, and tour his old stomping grounds in Osaka, including the arena in Namba where his hockey career began. The two-day camp in Hokkaido, called Dreamskate Japan and organized by POD, a startup investment firm with an office in LA, saw the participation of 200 boys and girls from elementary school age up to high school. Spence shares a laugh with a young player during the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD While Spence wasn't able to go full gas with the younger players, the intensity of his efforts ramped up when it was time to lead the older players through drills. He also did his own workout before one of the sessions, giving everyone a rare chance to see what NHL speed and skills look like up close. 'I can't explain how exciting it was for them to see a real NHL player,' said POD Americas President Kaz Yamanouchi, who helped organize the camp. 'He was full speed and full power ... the kids were so excited.' In addition to the on-ice training sessions led in part by Spence, the young players were given the opportunity to ask the Senators defenseman about his life and path to the pros. Yamanouchi recalls one player asked the 180-centimeter, 80-kilogram Spence about his relatively average size and weight. 'He said that 'always there's doubters, there's always negative comments or obstacles, but I fought through it and that's why I'm here. As long as you have confidence, you can achieve it.' I think the high school kids took that as a really serious answer. ... That was really inspiring,' Yamanouchi said. Spence demonstrates a shooting drill to participants at the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD Spence signs autographs for young players during the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD Evidently, it wasn't just the children who were impacted by Dreamskate Japan — Spence said he hopes to be part of more camps in Japan going forward. 'Being able to look at their skill and see how they compete, it's an eye-opening experience,' he said. 'They have the skill to compete against North American players. I think at the end of the day it's all about confidence and just being yourself when you're on the ice.' The camp also resonated with him on a more personal level as his status as a role model for young Japanese hockey players hit home. 'Being able to see their faces and see how excited they were to come to the camp and excited to go on the ice with me, take pictures, get autographs, that really caught me off guard a little bit,' Spence said. 'These little things that I do in Japan mean a lot for them and to kind of give back ... I thought it was very cool.'
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kings Offseason Torn Apart In Bleacher Report Article
The Los Angeles Kings have had an interesting offseason, and while many fans around the league have questioned what they've done, it seems as though analysts and pundits alike also don't believe in what they've decided to do this summer. In a recent article from Bleacher Report, the Kings' offseason was put on blast. They graded the Kings' offseason an F and called it a weird offseason. "Letting Vladislav Gavrikov go and trading Jordan Spence only to replace them with Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin on long-term contracts is nasty business, and it's also foolish business. Corey Perry might still have something to offer at forward, but this is still a middle-of-the-pack offensive team, and now its defense—its one big strength—is arguably worse than it was," the article reads. They finished it off by saying those weren't the moves that can give them an edge over the Edmonton Oilers or any other Western Conference contender. Yikes. Image Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ottawa Senators' Atlantic Rival Summer Report Cards: Toronto Maple Leafs
The Ottawa Senators are hoping to take another step forward this season, but much of their potential hinges on the internal growth of the group they entered the summer with. While the club did make a few notable additions — acquiring defenseman Jordan Spence, veteran center Lars Eller, and winger Arthur Kaliyev — their moves in the Atlantic were more depth than splash.
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Senators depth chart 2.0: Projecting the lineup after subtle offseason tweaks
Once we pass the first few days of July, it usually means offseason moves and activity should be at a minimum. But this summer some people, like NHL agent Allan Walsh, seem to think otherwise. There is approximately $275 Million of available cap space remaining within the system for next year. The most common comment from NHL teams right now – 'we have the cap dollars but no players to spend them on.' Watch for the trade market to heat up next week. — Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) July 5, 2025 At this stage, it remains to be seen whether the Senators will wade into those trade waters, even if that likely remains the best path if they want to improve scoring. The team already traded to acquire defensive depth in Jordan Spence during the weekend of the NHL Draft, but Senators general manager Steve Staios says he's not likely to make many more moves this offseason. Advertisement Of course, that doesn't mean Staios will throw his phone in the Ottawa River and say no to trade possibilities as they happen. Staios even told reporters that the Spence addition wasn't on his radar until closer to the draft. But until something else unexpected pops up, this new depth chart will have to do as we settle further into summer mode at The Athletic. First AHL call-ups: F Stephen Halliday, F Hayden Hodgson, F Zack MacEwen, F Olle Lycksell Zetterlund and Giroux's spots will be of keen interest entering camp. Is Zetterlund better served on the right side with Stützle? Or does he play to the left of Cozens, where he got time in the playoffs? In any case, with Zetterlund signed and the Senators hopeful in his offensive game, he is not a player the Senators will try to ease in on the fourth line. Giroux's versatility will serve him well on any line he's placed on. But for now, we've slotted him as a third-liner with Greig and his pupil, Pinto, allowing him to still play on the right side and somewhat shelter his minutes as he enters his age-38 season. Michael Amadio is penciled in on the team's fourth line, but could also return to the third and re-establish chemistry with Pinto and Greig. For those who feel Perron should be further down the lineup (as we had it in our last depth chart), there's some logic behind why he sticks on the second line with Cozens and Batherson for now. As long as Cousins remains healthy, he'll likely occupy the team's fourth-line left-wing spot. If Perron is healthy and plays anything like what he did in March and the playoffs, there are worse places for him to be than second-line left wing to start the year. But Ottawa could still use another scoring option up front. Ottawa filled its fourth-line centre vacancy with veteran and 2018 Stanley Cup champion Lars Eller, who has shown his value as a secondary contributor and penalty killer. Eller is also a career 50.3 percent faceoff man — he had a 52.2 percent win rate last season, split between Pittsburgh and Washington. If the Senators make the playoffs again in 2025-26, Eller's veteran presence will be another one to lean on in their dressing room. Advertisement If Ottawa needs size in its call-ups, they needn't look further than MacEwen and Hodgson, who both saw time in the NHL last year. Halliday showed promise in the AHL last season — if he makes a jump in his play, does he give himself a fighting chance to be Ottawa's 13th forward? Senators fans who'd like any bit of hope from their prospect pipeline would certainly enjoy seeing it. First AHL call-ups: LHD Donovan Sebrango, RHD Lassi Thomson, RHD Carter Yakemchuk We've kept the defensive pairings the same from version 1.0. We'll keep the same caveat, too: Let's all be pleasantly surprised together if (or when) the Senators put Spence on a top pairing with Sanderson and let everyone else slide down on the right-hand side. Spence had success analytically with the Kings last season in sheltered minutes. But he wants a bigger role, which facilitated his move out of Los Angeles. His placement on the Senators' depth chart will become an early storyline once training camp begins in September. For those curious about Spence on a top pairing with Sanderson, what do you think of these? Sanderson-Spence Chabot-Zub Kleven-Jensen Matinpalo The Senators are 'cautiously optimistic' that Jensen could be ready for training camp. But having him play third-pairing minutes with the younger Kleven could be an interesting way to ease him back into the lineup, while Chabot and Zub could play on a second pair. Ottawa will have some depth options with some intrigue entering a new season. Sebrango made a cameo appearance in the NHL this past year, so he could be a candidate for fill-in minutes if a chance comes. But Thomson, the Senators' first-round pick from 2019 who played well in Sweden last year, is back after posting good offensive totals with the Malmö Redhawks last year. I'm not completely sure about his chances for the team's seventh defenceman spot with Matinpalo already in it as a right-shot. Advertisement Of course, there's Yakemchuk. The youngster is likely destined for the American League for his first taste of professional hockey, which isn't a bad thing. His offensive talent will give him a chance in camp. But the Senators want to see improvement in his defensive game. The AHL will give him quality time to show and prove that he's made those gains. No need for Ottawa to rush him, unless he undeniably makes the front office think twice about sending him down to the minors. First AHL call-ups: G Mads Sogaard Ullmark will enter his first year of a four-year, $33 million contract that carries a no-move clause and should keep him in Senators colours through 2029, leaving little doubt who will start in goal come Game 1 of the regular season. The newly extended Merilainen, who played admirably in 12 appearances last season to keep the Senators' ship afloat, is the No. 2 behind Ullmark after Anton Forsberg signed with the Kings in free agency. The Senators now have Hunter Shepard for veteran stability in the AHL and Jackson Parsons as another rookie goalie on their depth chart. But if Ullmark or Merilainen go down, Sogaard — to whom Staios gave a public vote of confidence last month — is likely the next man up. (Top photo of Kleven, left, and Eller: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
